[afro-nets] I would Rather Save Business than Saving People

[Believe Dhliwayo <mabhindu@yahoo.com>]

I would Rather Save Business than Saving People
-----------------------------------------------

Dear All,

Once again for the second time the Minister of Health [Zimbabwe]
has approved with little or no consultations to beneficiaries of
the services the increase in consultation fees while public
health systems have continued to deteriorate and its an eye
sore.

I have highlighted the comment he made pertaining consultations
prior to increases. He is more concerned with his fellow Doctor
friends than our lives.

See the Herald text below:
http://www.herald.co.zw/inside.aspx?sectid=1964&cat=1

Private doctors, clinic fees up

Health Reporter

PRIVATE doctors, clinics and hospitals have been allowed to in-
crease their fees with immediate effect following consultations
with the Government and the Association of Healthcare Funders
(medical aid societies).

Health and Child Welfare Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa an-
nounced the new fee structures last night. He said the fees were
lower than the amounts the private health sector had been de-
manding when he temporarily froze any increases. With effect
from April 1, general practitioners' consultation fees have gone
up by 100 percent to Z$ 5,8 million, from Z$ 2,9 million. Spe-
cialist physician fees have also been doubled from Z$ 4 million
to Z$ 8 million. Anaesthetists' fees, said Dr Parirenyatwa,
would be 70 percent of the amount surgeons charge while medical
aid societies were allowed to increase members' contributions by
between 70 and 90 percent. Dr Parirenyatwa said the private sec-
tor had been demanding a 240 percent increase. The Government,
he said, had realised the need to cut down the figures to more
realistic levels.

Asked whether people who are already reeling under price in-
creases of various items and service would be able to afford the
new fees, the minister said he had arrived at the new percent-
ages after wide consultations with relevant parties. He said it
was not his intention to destroy private health care providers,
hence the necessity to allow them to charge fees that would al-
low them to remain in business. "I do not want to kill the pri-
vate sector. I want it to thrive so that it can complement the
public health sector. However, I am saying that it should not
get out of control, hence the decision to start regulating their
operations in earnest. "Some of these big hospitals do not moni-
tor what takes place in their institutions. Consultants and doc-
tors charge whatever they want and these hospitals do not seem
to notice and that has to change," he said. From now on the Gov-
ernment would seriously monitor the private sector. "Even now
that we have agreed on these new fees, some will want to charge
more and that is what we are saying cannot be tolerated because
we would have to use stiffer methods to clamp down on such prac-
tices. "And when we say fees for private hospitals and clinics
have gone up, there should be clear distinctions between the
hospitals because they fall in different categories." Avenues
and West End Clinic, for instance, differ vastly from Mother of
Peace and Suburban Clinic in terms of facilities and service al-
though the three all fall into the private health institution
category. Dr Parirenyatwa said the Government remained committed
to providing health care to Zimbabweans of all classes. As a re-
sult, there were deliberate efforts to strengthen the public
health delivery system so that those who could not afford medi-
cal aid or cash in the private sector could turn to an efficient
public health sector. Already Zimbabweans have been complaining
of high premiums charged by medical aid societies. Health care
is now a pipe dream for many in the country with the majority
failing to afford a visit to the doctor or buy prescribed drugs.
Private doctors, clinics and hospitals had argued that they
should be allowed to increase fees to remain viable in this hy-
per-inflationary environment.


Believe Dhliwayo
Zimbabwe
mailto:mabhindu@yahoo.com